Category Archive:
05/12
False Modesty
“Her eyebrows from a mouse’s hide, Stuck on with art on either side, Pulls off with care, and first displays ’em, Then in a play-book smoothly lays ’em.” So wrote Jonathan Swift, commemorating the 18th century’s false-eyebrow trend in his…
03/23
Nutmeg to-go
How I’d love to find a dusty old 19th century pocket nutmeg grinder in some antique shop. After silverware was introduced in England’s taverns and inns in the 17th century, these precious—and deadly—items were quickly removed again. The cost was…
03/21
One-a-penny, two-a-penny, hot crossed buns
In honor of the vernal equinox this weekend (that is, a day with just as many hours of light as of dark) I baked a batch of hot crossed buns, yeasted, spiced breakfast rolls that the pagans ate in celebration…
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